Families were evacuated as a fire destroyed the ground-floor area of a back-to-back house in Bradford today.

Crews from Bradford and Stanningley were called to the blaze in Browning Street, Barkerend, at 2.15am.

When crews arrived flames were coming through the downstairs window.

The fire took about 45 minutes to get under control.

The occupant of the property was not in the house at the time of the blaze and no one was injured.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire Service said the families were evacuated for a few hours, because the fire had been in danger of spreading.

He said the kitchen and living areas were completely gutted.

Fire investigation officers were at the property yesterday to establish how the blaze had started.